Belabored Podcast #193: Work in the Time of Coronavirus

As the coronavirus spreads across the world, we discuss what it means for workers in healthcare, the gig economy, and other frontline industries.

A worker cleans the floor of a pharmacy in the UK, following reports a member of staff was infected with Covid-19 (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

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As the coronavirus pandemic spreads across the world and across the United States, as we are all told to practice “social distancing,” we are reminded that the way we work has everything to do with how we interact as humans and how infections spread through society. In our return episode after our February break, we discuss the spread of coronavirus, what it’s meant for healthcare workers, gig economy workers, the rich, and other frontline employees, what it says about the climate crisis, and more.We also hear from Debra L. Ness, President of the National Partnership for Women and Families, about the need for paid sick days.

And since labor hasn’t stopped since the outbreak began, we also check in on the Saint Paul Federation of Educators strike and the ongoing graduate employees’ cost-of-living battle that began at the University of California at Santa Cruz and has spread across the UC system. We hear too about the latest on nail salon workers, and the art of the sex workers’ movement. For Argh, we look at what a basic income trial has meant to its participants, and the questions of organizing in a time of multiple apocalypses.

This week’s show was supported by our monthly sustaining members. If you think our work is worth supporting, please consider becoming a member today. If you’re interested in advertising on the show, please email ads@dissentmagazine.org. And as always, if you have any questions, comments, or tips, email us at belabored@dissentmagazine.org.

News:

Michelle: The Nail Salon Industry is Rife with Exploitation and Abuse (Progressive)

New York Nail Salon Workers Association

New York Healthy Nail Salons Coalition

Saint Paul Teachers Strike for Their Students’ Mental Health (Labor Notes)

Sarah: How to Halt Labor’s Slow Death (The New Republic)

The Sex Workers’ Pop-Up

UC graduate students threaten more strikes as movement grows (Los Angeles Times)

Become Unreasonable (Commune)

The Grassroots Wildcat Strike for a COLA and the Fight for a Democratic, Militant Union (Medium)

Support Fund for Striking Workers at UCSC! (GoFundMe)

Pay Us More UCSC